Dosage dispenser

ABSTRACT

The aim of the invention is to simplify the construction of a dosage dispenser ( 1 ) for dosing at least one component that is contained in a receptacle section ( 10 ), by means of a pump unit ( 6 ) connected to said section and a pump plunger ( 6 ′), which is inserted in said unit and can be actuated by means of an actuating element ( 3 ) using a handle ( 7 ), in particular about a horizontal pivoting axis ( 4 ) in a housing head ( 8 ) and which is connected to a delivery nozzle ( 9 ). To achieve this aim, the upper region of the pump unit ( 6 ) has an annular channel ( 21 ) facing towards the delivery nozzle ( 9 ).

The invention relates to a dosage dispenser according to the preamble of claim 1.

Dosage dispensers are known from EP 0 755 721 A2 and DE 198 18 434 in which the mixing ratio of two fluid components can be adjusted in a continuous manner. Such a dosage dispenser can be used as a dispenser for sun lotion in order to mix two sun lotion components with a sun lotion factor of 1 and of 25 for example, so that the sun lotion factor can be set in a continuous manner in this region. Said dosage dispenser represents a substantial improvement for the consumer because the consumer can choose the sun lotion factor depending on the insolation and the acclimatization of the skin and the consumer does not have to carry several containers with different sun lotion factors around with him.

Even in the further development of the proposed solution according to WO 00/09270 (especially FIG. 3), the dosage dispenser comprises two pumping units to each of which an exchangeable cartridge is associated which each contains a type of sun lotion with highly differing sun lotion factors. The pump units or pump plungers are actuated via an actuating element which is in operative connection with a pump or nozzle head which is held in the housing of the dosage dispenser and is actuated by the consumer via a handle.

The known dosage dispensers have principally proven their worth in practice. However, they still show a number of deficiencies in their details. In particular, the pump units and their pump pistons have a comparatively complex configuration.

In contrast to this, the invention is based on the object of providing a dosage dispenser which comprises at least one pump unit which is simpler with respect to configuration and is reliable in operation.

This object is achieved by a dosage dispenser in accordance with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In comparison with the dosage dispensers as described above, the solution in accordance with the invention has a substantially simpler and more stable configuration because the pump unit comprises in its upper region an annular channel facing towards the delivery nozzle. As a result of this annular channel in extension of an annular gap, the component to be dosed can be guided in a simple and secure way to the delivery channel without any additional bores or channels. Moreover, this arrangement provides the guidance of the pump plunger and the pump unit with a substantially more stable configuration than the designs as described above and the number of movable components can be reduced. Preferably, the pump unit and/or the delivery nozzle is formed integrally into a mixing unit, especially if it is configured as an injection-molded part.

An especially advantageous aspect is that the housing is joined via an ultrasonic weld seam with the mixing unit of the dosage dispenser for guiding the pump unit(s), which weld seam, for the purpose of preparing the welding joint, can also be formed as an elevated bead in an integral way on the mixing unit.

It is further preferred that the housing is provided in its centre with two webs which can also be formed in an integral manner. This leads to a groove-like recess, so that a separating wall of the delivery nozzle can be inserted with ease in a positionally stable manner during the mounting. The proposed dosage dispenser can thus be mounted in an especially simple and stable manner with low overall height.

Other advantageous further developments of the invention, especially concerning the configuration of the mixing unit and adjacent components, are the subject matter of the further subclaims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below by reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the dosage dispenser in accordance with the invention with two pump units;

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a mixing unit for receiving the pump units in a perspective view (left from above; right from below);

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a housing of the dosage dispenser (left from below; right from above).

FIG. 1 will be used at first to describe the basic concept of the dosage dispenser 1 in accordance with the invention, according to which the adjustment of the mixture occurs by twisting an actuating element 3 about the vertical axis relative to several pump units 6 which are actuated via the actuating element 3. A pivoting axis 4 is arranged integrally on the actuating element 3 and is thus adjustable jointly with the same relative to a housing 2 (also see FIG. 3) and the pump units 6.

The actuating element 3 is provided in the illustrated embodiment with an annular or disk-like configuration, so that said actuating element 3 is rotatable about a vertical axis and is further pivotable about the pivoting axis 4 which is arranged approximately transversally thereto. The actuating element 3 rests with its lower side on the two pump units 6, so that by pressing down the actuating element 3 about the pivoting axis 4 a pumping stroke can be introduced upon the piston plunger(s) 6′. This pivoting or pressing down of the actuating element 3 about its pivoting axis 4 occurs through a handle 7 which can be actuated by hand and which is provided at the edge of a housing head 8 which is held on the housing 2 and in which the delivery or mixing nozzle 5 for the mixture is arranged. Since lateral forces act upon the piston plunger 6′, a collar 16 each is provided for their guidance. The collar 16 is guided in a torsionally rigid way in at least one guide rail 12, 12′ in a mixing unit 11 and is thus supported in a stable manner.

If the actuating element 3 is pressed downwardly or deflected by pressing down the handle 7, it performs a pivoting movement about the pivoting axis 4, so that only the pump head of the pump unit 6 which is on the left side in FIG. 1 is pressed downwardly. The left pump 6 thus has a stroke or conveying volume of 100%. The pump unit 6 which is on the right side in this case and which is not pressurized because it is situated below the pivoting axis 4 has a stroke or conveying volume of 0% (relating to the total output quantity). The discharged quantity thus only contains portions of the component conveyed by the left pump unit 6 via an annular channel 21 from the left receptacle section 10, as is indicated with the double dot-dash arrow A within the delivery nozzle 9.

When the actuating element 3 is turned by 90°, an alignment of the pivoting axis 4 is obtained in which the same extends at a parallel distance to the connecting line of the two pump units 6. If based on this position the actuating element 3 is pressed downwardly, the two pump units 6 are pushed downwardly by the same path, so that both pumps have an identical stroke or a conveying volume of 50% of the total output quantity. The mixture then contains the same parts of the two components from the receptacle sections 10. In the case of respective intermediate positions of the actuating element 3 and its pivoting axis 4, respective intermediate conditions are obtained between the strokes or conveying volumes of pumps 6, so that they are continuously adjustable for each component between 0%:100% and 100%:0%.

As is shown in particular in FIG. 2, the respective guide means 12, 12′ is arranged on the circumference of the annular mixing unit 11. The mixing unit 11 is arranged in the illustrated constructional concept as an annular hollow body with a plurality of reinforcing ribs and further comprises in its center a tower-like delivery nozzle 9, as is also shown in FIG. 1.

As is shown in FIG. 1 (assembly drawing), the housing 2 carries the rotatable housing head 8 on which the mixing nozzle 5 is also arranged. The mixture set via the stroke of the pump units 6 passes through the same. The adjustment of the mixture occurs by twisting the housing head 8 relative to the housing 2. The receptacle sections 10 such as cartridges, glasses and bags for the components of the mixture can be fastened via connecting flanges on the housing 2. The components contained therein are guided via the central delivery nozzle 9 to the discharge or mixing nozzle 5 which emerges in a radial fashion from the housing head 8.

As is shown in the figures, the dosage dispenser 1 can be provided with a relatively short axial length, thus leading to an especially compact overall size. The individual components, and especially the actuating element 3, the housing head 8, the mixing unit 11 and the housing 2, are preferably produced by way of injection molding and are pre-mounted by latching or snap-on connections and are preferably joined by an ultrasonic weld seam 13 with each other, which thus leads to simple mounting.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the components from the receptacle sections 10 are supplied to a common central delivery nozzle 9 which is divided by a separating wall 9 a. In principle, the individual components could also be guided separate from each other to the discharge or mixing nozzle, so that no inner mixing occurs there yet. The discharge nozzle 5 can preferably emerge in the radial direction or also centrally from the face surface of the housing head 8.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the mixing unit 11 of the dosage dispenser 1 in accordance with the invention. The figure especially shows the integral configuration. The pump unit 6 with its pump plunger 6′ engages after insertion into the guide rail 12 of the mixing unit 11 and the cylindrical recess, as is indicated in FIG. 2 in the left half with the arrow, which thus leads to a stable guidance. Moreover, the pump piston 6′ comprises at its lower end a seal 17 which is formed thereon in an integral fashion, which thus leads to a substantial reduction in the number of the required components for the pump unit 6. Moreover, a pressure spring 18 can be inserted within the seal 17 and can thus be held, as is shown in particular in FIG. 1. A secure guidance of the pump plunger 6′ is thus achieved, since in addition to the torsionally rigid guidance on the guide rail 12 the collar 16 encloses the upper end of pump plunger 6′ in an annular manner with a rounded contact point 16′ towards the actuating element 3 and thus reinforces the same.

FIG. 3 shows the aforementioned housing 2 in a perspective view, into which the mixing unit 11 with the downwardly projecting pump units 6 is inserted, as is indicated by the dot-dash double arrow between FIGS. 2 and 3 (right half). An indexing 2 b engages in a recess 11 b and the separating wall 9a in two webs 2 a which are tipped centrally in the housing 2 in order to separate the two flat annular channels 21 of the two pump units 6 from each other. The housing 2 substantially encloses the mixing unit 11 and is joined with the same via the ultrasonic weld seam 13, thus leading to a boundary around the annular channel 21. An annular gap (around the pump unit 6) for allowing the passage of the respective component to be dosed to the upper annular channel 21 is formed via the radial webs 6 a which are shown in FIG. 2 in the right half (cf. FIG. 1, lower initial region of arrow A). Said annular gap can converge into the annular channel 21 with the same cross section or form the same at least in part.

Moreover, the housing 2 comprises in its inner space two pin-like extensions 14 which in the axial extension of the pump units 6 form connections for the bottle- or cartridge-like receptacle sections 10. A tappet 15 is arranged within each of said extensions 14, which tappet is in contact with respective locking elements 19, especially a spring-loaded ball on the receptacle sections 10. During the mounting of the dosage dispenser 1, the respective receptacle section 10 is opened which is preferably configured in the form of a semi-circular cartridge. As is shown in FIG. 3 in the left half on the inner side of the circumferential wall, partial threads are provided with which cartridges can be placed in the manner of a bayonet catch or the like on the respective extensions 14.

The receptacle sections 10 can receive seasonings, sauces or detergents and the like in addition to cosmetics. The relevant aspect is that the pump plunger 6′ does not come into contact with the product per se. This is especially advantageous for hygienic reasons. 

1. A dosage dispenser for dosing at least one component that is contained in a receptacle section, which occurs by a pump unit connected to said section and a pump plunger which is inserted in said unit and can be actuated by an actuating element using a handle, especially about a horizontal pivoting axis in a housing head, and which is connected to a delivery nozzle, wherein the pump unit comprises in its upper region an annular channel facing towards the delivery nozzle.
 2. A dosage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pump unit and/or the delivery nozzle is/are formed integrally on a mixing unit, especially by means of injection molding.
 3. A dosage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the annular channel has a cross section which widens towards the delivery nozzle.
 4. A dosage dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the pump unit is inserted in a housing which is connected with the mixing unit by an ultrasonic weld seam.
 5. A dosage dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the annular channel is enclosed by the ultrasonic weld seam.
 6. A dosage dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the ultrasonic weld seam is provided with the shape of a figure-of-eight curve.
 7. A dosage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the pump unit comprises a tappet each which extends towards the respective receptacle section.
 8. A dosage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein a pin-like extension each is provided around the pump unit(s).
 9. A dosage dispenser according to claim 7 wherein the tappet is substantially arranged within the extension.
 10. A dosage dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the tappet is in contact with a locking element of the receptacle section.
 11. A dosage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises two webs in its center, with a separating wall of the delivery nozzle engaging between the same.
 12. A dosage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an indexing, especially a pin, which engages in a respective recess of the mixing unit. 